The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964, as a successor to the Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts .As the main development agency for the arts it is responsible for the distribution of Exchequer and National Lottery Funding for the arts in Northern Ireland. The council is headquartered at 1 The Sidings, Antrim Road, Lisburn. Organisationally it is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Communities.
The following funding schemes are provided by the Arts Council to organisations in Northern Ireland. Programmes are open at specific times during the year and the programme availability is subject to change.
Music Touring
Small Grants Programme
Building Peace through the Arts - Re-Imaging Communities
Annual Funding Programme
Arts and Older People programme funding
Public Art Funding
Capacity Building
Intercultural Arts Programme funding
Project Funding
Musical Instruments for Bands
Equipment and Minor Refurbishments
The following funding programmes are open to individual artists at specific times during the calendar year. Dates are subject to change.
Travel Awards
Support for the Individual Artist programme
